Gait-straightening attachment.



Patented Sept. ll, "I900.

J. w. SUTTON. GAIT STRAIGHTENING ATTACHMENT.

(Application filed June 2, 1900.)

(No Model.)

' straightening attachment.

UNlTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN W. SUTTON, on NEW YORK, N. Y.

GAlT-STRAIGHTENING ATTACHMENT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 657,798, datedSeptember 11, 1900.

Application filed June 2, 1900.

To all whont it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOHN V. SUTTON, a citizen of the United States,residing in the city of New York, borough of Brooklyn, and State of NewYork, have in vented certain new and useful Improvements inGait-Straightening Attachments, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to an improved attachment for vehicle-shafts bywhich the gait of horses may be straightenedi. e. the habit of horses ofpressing their hind parts toward the shaft may be corrected-and astraight and even motion of the horse secured. A large number oflight-harness horses, both trotters and pacers, have a more or lesssidewise movement-that is to say, they carry their hind parts overagainst the shaft of the vehicle, put-ting the right hind foot under theleft fore foot so the toe of the shoe on the fore foot. du ring theforward movementstrikes the front of the hind hoof. This is known asscalping. The sidewise movement renders it impossible for the horse totravel as easily or as rapidly as if going straight. The sidewisemovement is toward the left in some horses and in others toward theright. For the purpose of correcting this habit my invention consists ofa gait-straightening attachment which comprises a pad, springssupporting the same, means for adjusting the position of the pad on saidsprings, means for attaching said springs to the vehicle-shaft, andmeans for limiting the movement of the pad-supporting springs; and theinvention consists, further, in certain other combinations of operativeparts, which will be more fully set forth and claimed hereinafter.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of myimproved gaitelevation of the attachment. Fig. 3 is a side elevation ofthe same; and Fig. 4: is a plan "View, partly in horizontal section, online 4 4,

Fig. 2 is a front Serial No. 1&828. (N0 model) shafts. The shaft uponwhich the pad is supported is carried by clips ad, that are attached toand adjustable upon stout wire springs O, the lower ends of which-arecoiled and provided above the coils with hook-shaped ends supported insleeves at the ends of a clipplate D, which is secured to the vehicleshaft by means of an upper clip D and fasteningscrews d cl and ascrew-nut and bolt d. The clip-plate D is hinged to eyes of thefasteningscrews. By means of the fastening-screws and bolt the distancebetween the two clipplates may be readily adjusted, so as to permitclamping the attachment rigidly upon a shaft S of any diameter or at anypoint in the length of the shaft. The lower clip-plate D is providedwith an upright post. D carrying at its upper end a cross-piece that isconnected by adjustable leather straps E with the clips at a, supportingthe pad A.

For correcting in a horse the habit referred to the attachment isslipped upon-the shaft toward which the movement takes place to a pointopposite the ribs of the horse or thereabout. The horse is thenharnessed to the vehicle and the attachment clamped to the shaft in thedesired location by turning up the nut on the bolt (1. The clipsaa arethen adjusted upon the springs G G, if necessary, so as to bring the padto proper height. Lastly, the straps E E are adjusted so as to permitthe pad A to project the proper dis tance from the shaft toward thehorse. Upon driving the horse he attempts to assume his uneven gait; butin doing so his ribs press against the pad and he is unable to assume aposition out of line with the shafts, but must travel squarely, withoutunevenness of gait. By continuous use of the gait-straightener the habitis gradually broken up and the device may be dispensed with, to be usedagain should the habit recur.

Side straps and side poles extending from the end of the shaft back tothe cross-bar of the shafts have been used heretofore for correcting thehabit referred to. They have the great disadvantage, however, ofpresenting the resistance to the sidewise movement upon the moving orpulling muscles of the horse. These muscles contact with these strap andpole devices,and the action of the horseis seriously interfered with. Mydevice, however, contacts with the horse upon or near the ribs and notupon the working muscles and does not interfere with or impair hisaction, but corrects the sidewise movement. The attachment has the greatadvantage that it is perfectly adjustable-i. 6., adjustable in everydirection-so that the pad can be brought to bear with exactness whererequired. It is furthermore spring-actuated, so as to present a yieldingresistance, whereby injury to the animal can not possibly occur.

Having thus described my invention, I

claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent-- 1. Agait-straightening attachment for vehicle-shafts, consisting of a pad,springs supporting the same, means for adjusting the position of the padon said springs, means for attaching said springs to the vehicle-shaft,and means for limiting the movement of said pad-supporting springs,substantially as set forth.

2. A gait-straightening attachment for vehicle-shafts, consisting of apad, springs supporting the same, means for attaching said springs tothe vehicle-shaft, an upright post on said attaching means, andadjustable straps connecting said post with said springs for limitingthe movement of the latter, substantially as set forth. 1

3. A gait-straightening attachment, consisting of a pad,supporting-springs, clips se curing said pad to said springs andadjustable thereon, a clip device for attaching said springs to theshaft of a vehicle, an upright post on said clip device, and adjustablestraps connecting said clips with the post, substantially as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I have signed myname in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOHN W. SUTTON.

Witnesses:

PAUL GOEPEL, M. H. WURTZEL.

